Prior to the Township of Frontenac Islands regular monthly meeting in December, two other meetings were held.. One a closed meeting about normal personnel issues, and the second , a 2018 Priority Setter. That meeting was a dandy, open to the public, engaging members of council and staff, first to review the 2015-2016 priority setting status, what was achieved and to be competed (or not) in 2017, and finally to engage in a round table discussion related to those priorities not yet achieved , and set up a document listing future {2018) priorities. All this done under the specific headings of: Accessibility, Economic Development, Planning Initiatives, Community Support Development, Ferry Concerns, and Public Works, all evaluated under 3 colours : Green /Completed; Yellow ongoing-improved and Red/ Not Achieved.
Mayor Doyle, Deputy Mayor, and Councillors Springgay, Higgs, & Grant, CAO Plumley, and Public Works Manager Rob Dillabough, were totally engaged in the process which led to a number of decisions. For instance Township Welcoming signs to be made of composite material for both Howe and Wolfe generated some of that discussion with Councillor Springgay concerned that the township has been ready and waiting too long to replace them. “It would be better to do it ourselves than to wait for county participation,’ she suggested. The township will follow up with the county. And for Howe Island Deputy Mayor Nossal suggested setting up a working group to further study fees and fares, noting many suggestions had been made during earlier meetings on the subject. It may be that no further changes are made, “ but due diligence will have been done,” she said. And so it continued.

Under Accessibility and Public Works, completed items include washroom the WI Community Centre, accessible parking and ramp at the WI Town Hall, and a council chamber upgrade. There was side walk work and the WI Seniors apartment project as complete. On Howe Island the HI Trail was upgraded. And a two phase plan determined for Spit Head Road. WI & HI Community Halls up grades are partly complete with Wolfe’s requiring electronic door openers and a new furnace. Also expanded facilities at the ball diamond on Howe for basketball , pickle ball and tennis came up for budget discussion. A major concern for Marysville is the proposed secondary plan critical for the village and when it would happen. Alternative methods for sewage disposal were discussed. A communal approach to water delivery was suggested, all with an eye for the growth of the township based on improved ferry service. Further approaches to accessibility and communication with the public also are up for more discussion.

Under the heading of Ferries and Public Works, the Simcoe ferry has had an engine upgrade but the Simcoe dock work must be restarted, as an emergency, and as soon as possible. WI has a new helipad. The new building at the WI recycling facility includes a washroom, (a first at this location.) And, of course there is anticipation for improvement to Rds. 7051 and 96, from the Dawson Point dock to the Marysville Dock by MTO. That may include improvements at the canal crossing (larger pipe to get the water flowing) once the township completes the EA for the upgrades. Road work including diching maintenance on Wolfe and roadside brush removal on both islands will continue. Future road work on gravel roads requires capital planning. Howe Island waits for MTO’s approval to tender the ‘deck rebuild’ of their foot ferry. Also costs of a bubbler system for it will be studied.

Under the Administration heading CAO Plumley reported on the status of reserves, and the requests for annual funding. She noted the importance more and more of recycling for economic reasons for Frontenac Islands as opposed to carrying more and more garbage off the islands. Custodial services and property management are under consideration with a number of objectives requiring more study such as the effect of a secondary plan on bylaw enforcement policies, or township rental policies and as always, better communications with the public.
At the conclusion of the priority setting meeting the council expressed satisfaction with the process and the materials which were provided to undertake that review.
It should also be noted that at the outset of the process, and again at its conclusion, Mayor Denis Doyle stated that the two &1/2 % target agreed to by council (1% for policing, 1& 1/2% through inflation) to be raised through taxation for the township as compared to last year’s figures. This is not the tax rate change. The township also collects and remits taxes for the school boards and to Frontenac County. It is the total of those 3 numbers (township/education/county) that is then applied to the total assessment, to determine the tax rate. Council will met again in January for a meeting of Council as well, as for another budget meeting, and has set dates for further meetings. The intent is to pass their budget, and the tax rate, at the April meeting on Howe Island.
Around Town;** The WI ferry is now operating from the Dawson Point dock. Please note: there is no public transportation from the village of Marysville to Dawson Point. Wouldn’t it be great if a City of Kingston Bus came across to Marysville for at least One peak period trip in the morning to pick up folks for school/work and again for one peak period in the late afternoon to bring them home again.? ?*** The WIPP remains open for the winter months. **Local Island beer is now on sale at Fargo’s. Check out the Gen. Wolfe Inn “Special Events” calendar on face book.Busy Day of Meetings in December 2017 at Howe Island – I’m Slowly Catching Up!
Prior to the Township of Frontenac Islands regular monthly meeting in December, two other meetings were held.. One a closed meeting about normal personnel issues, and the second , a 2018 Priority Setter. That meeting was a dandy, open to the public, engaging members of council and staff, first to review the 2015-2016 priority setting status, what was achieved and to be competed (or not) in 2017, and finally to engage in a round table discussion related to those priorities not yet achieved , and set up a document listing future {2018) priorities. All this done under the specific headings of: Accessibility, Economic Development, Planning Initiatives, Community Support Development, Ferry Concerns, and Public Works, all evaluated under 3 colours : Green /Completed; Yellow ongoing-improved and Red/ Not Achieved.
Mayor Doyle, Deputy Mayor, and Councillors Springgay, Higgs, & Grant, CAO Plumley, and Public Works Manager Rob Dillabough, were totally engaged in the process which led to a number of decisions. For instance Township Welcoming signs to be made of composite material for both Howe and Wolfe generated some of that discussion with Councillor Springgay concerned that the township has been ready and waiting too long to replace them. “It would be better to do it ourselves than to wait for county participation,’ she suggested. The township will follow up with the county. And for Howe Island Deputy Mayor Nossal suggested setting up a working group to further study fees and fares, noting many suggestions had been made during earlier meetings on the subject. It may be that no further changes are made, “ but due diligence will have been done,” she said. And so it continued.

Under Accessibility and Public Works, completed items include washroom the WI Community Centre, accessible parking and ramp at the WI Town Hall, and a council chamber upgrade. There was side walk work and the WI Seniors apartment project as complete. On Howe Island the HI Trail was upgraded. And a two phase plan determined for Spit Head Road. WI & HI Community Halls up grades are partly complete with Wolfe’s requiring electronic door openers and a new furnace. Also expanded facilities at the ball diamond on Howe for basketball , pickle ball and tennis came up for budget discussion. A major concern for Marysville is the proposed secondary plan critical for the village and when it would happen. Alternative methods for sewage disposal were discussed. A communal approach to water delivery was suggested, all with an eye for the growth of the township based on improved ferry service. Further approaches to accessibility and communication with the public also are up for more discussion.

Under the heading of Ferries and Public Works, the Simcoe ferry has had an engine upgrade but the Simcoe dock work must be restarted, as an emergency, and as soon as possible. WI has a new helipad. The new building at the WI recycling facility includes a washroom, (a first at this location.) And, of course there is anticipation for improvement to Rds. 7051 and 96, from the Dawson Point dock to the Marysville Dock by MTO. That may include improvements at the canal crossing (larger pipe to get the water flowing) once the township completes the EA for the upgrades. Road work including diching maintenance on Wolfe and roadside brush removal on both islands will continue. Future road work on gravel roads requires capital planning. Howe Island waits for MTO’s approval to tender the ‘deck rebuild’ of their foot ferry. Also costs of a bubbler system for it will be studied.

Under the Administration heading CAO Plumley reported on the status of reserves, and the requests for annual funding. She noted the importance more and more of recycling for economic reasons for Frontenac Islands as opposed to carrying more and more garbage off the islands. Custodial services and property management are under consideration with a number of objectives requiring more study such as the effect of a secondary plan on bylaw enforcement policies, or township rental policies and as always, better communications with the public.
At the conclusion of the priority setting meeting the council expressed satisfaction with the process and the materials which were provided to undertake that review.
It should also be noted that at the outset of the process, and again at its conclusion, Mayor Denis Doyle stated that the two &1/2 % target agreed to by council (1% for policing, 1& 1/2% through inflation) to be raised through taxation for the township as compared to last year’s figures. This is not the tax rate change. The township also collects and remits taxes for the school boards and to Frontenac County. It is the total of those 3 numbers (township/education/county) that is then applied to the total assessment, to determine the tax rate. Council will met again in January for a meeting of Council as well, as for another budget meeting, and has set dates for further meetings. The intent is to pass their budget, and the tax rate, at the April meeting on Howe Island.

Around Town;** The WI ferry is now operating from the Dawson Point dock. Please note: there is no public transportation from the village of Marysville to Dawson Point. Wouldn’t it be great if a City of Kingston Bus came across to Marysville for at least One peak period trip in the morning to pick up folks for school/work and again for one peak period in the late afternoon to bring them home again.? ?*** The WIPP remains open for the winter months. **Local Wolfe Island Spring Craft Brewery beer is now on sale at Fargo’s. Check out the Gen. Wolfe Inn “Special Events” calendar on face book.

And finally a Special Thank You (better late than never)to Wolfe Island's Christmas Elves who, inspite of terrible weather, provided us all with a beautifully decorated Marysville for the Christmas Season.

The purpose of writing for a community newspaper really is about keeping people informed regarding things they would never or rarely read about in the daily news unless it is a story for the broader community.

Fortunately for Islanders, Wolfe Island was well covered over the years in the Whig Standard offering in effect a historical overview of island life and times good and bad. Now with Facebook, Twitter, etc. and the many web sites that exist people find their news in numerous places.

The Womens Institutes have been the guardians of Island History with the Tweedsmuir Community History Books (or Tweedsmuirs as they are commonly known) preserved at Queens. The Wolfe Island Historical Society is keeping WI History alive within the Old House museum and through their publication Windward. their website, on \Facebook and regular annual events.

For the Howe Island Historical Society, preserving Howe Island’s history in one form or another continues to be a priority.

The Kington Heritage and Frontenac Gazette also provided a venue to keep in touch weekly, with information and local news about Frontenac County and the City of Kingston.

Personally I have been writing for the Kingston Heritage for years. Now with the paper’s demise it is my intention with encouragement to continue to post weekly articles about Frontenac Islands at the wolfeisland.com website.

Going forward, may 2018 be a “Good Year” for Frontenac Islands.